Rhode Island Carp Fishing

Beautiful Weather; Poor Fishing

2012-02-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

I don't get it. The weather of the last two days has been beautiful, and I spent all day fishing on both days in many different spot. The result...not a hit! Most of the ponds in the central part of the state are now ice free and that should have lit up the fishing, but it didn't. I even decided to mix things up a bit and fish at night. Last night I tended two rods in 50 degree weather (unreal) and not a hit. I've prebaited most of the spots I fished so that is not the problem. I've seen no activity like bubble trails or fish jumping. I know it is only a matter of time before spring fishing breaks open if this warm weather and ice free conditions continue in ponds across the state.

New Members of the January Carp Club in RI

2012-01-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

Prior to this year, there was only a couple of us in the state that had ever hooked and landed a January carp in open water. That number is increasing as members of the RI Carp Anglers Group have been fishing all winter long and catching. Catching a carp in December in fairly easy, especially in the beginning of the month. But, January....that's a different story. Even in a warm January as we are now experiencing, it's mighty tough to catch one. You need to find open water and then find fish that are willing to hit. But, we're a persistent group. I got out today with two of our RI CAG members, Nick and Paul. I got nothing but those two guys landed 3 nice fish. They are the latest members of the January carp club here in RI. For those who can't fish on the ice this year and for those waiting for Opening Day to finally fish, you are missing a great opportunity to catch a big, hard fighting winter fish. Carp will hit in the dead of winter and the pictures are proof.

Biggest January Carp

2012-01-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

This has been a January to remember with the most carp I have ever been able to catch this winter month. However, I just made it even more memorable with the largest carp I have ever landed in January. I got out on this beautiful Jan. 24th day. Temperatures were in the mid fifties with a bright sun and blue skies. I was a bit worried about ice since we have just come off a real cold spell with ice and snow. But, yesterday's rain and a mild night broke up most of the ice along the shallow pond I was fishing though snow still covered the bank. There was ice in coves to my right and left and I would say a third of the pond was still covered in ice, but it was ice free in front of me. I prebaited a small amount of corn and then set up my two outfits with pineapple Pecaviva sweet corn fished ahead of a method ball. First hit was a screamer (really a surprise in this cold water) and I landed a feisty carp about 10 lbs. An hour later, the other alarm went off and I knew I was onto a better fish by the drag screaming run. This fish was a beauty, a fish of at least 15 lbs. It was gorgeous just laying in the snowbank in front of me. It was the biggest January carp I have ever been able to land in open water. However, I'm still looking for a January 20 lber. Maybe this will be the year!

Carp Fishing Seminar at ASA Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Worcester, MA

2012-01-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

I'll be doing a lot of fishing seminars this winter and my first ones will take place at the ASA Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on Feb. 10 (1 PM), Feb.11(11 AM), and Feb.12 (11 AM). I'll be doing striper fishing shows on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11. On Sunday, Feb. 12, I'll be doing my latest carp fishing show for the freshwater crowd called New England Carp Fishing 101. This new show outlines everything a beginner needs to know to get into carp fishing. It also has some useful info for the seasoned veteran. The show is filled with photos and videos and I will narrate the entire show.

This ASA show, one of the biggest in NE, is loaded with everything fishing, hunting and outdoors. It features a national line-up of fishing gear representatives of various companies and features the latest in fishing gear for 2012 for freshwater saltwater fishermen. There are also lots of local and regional reps and companies at the show as well as expert seminar speakers and presenters . Take a look at this link ( http://www.sportshows.com/worcester/index.html ) for a complete show line-up of companies, seminars and other info. Getting to a show is a great way to shake the winter doldrums. Hope to see you there!

Good Luck on Friday, Jan. 13

2012-01-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

Forget Friday the 13th superstitions. Today was a good day of carp fishing here in RI. My friend and fellow CAGer Nick and I got out today in a shallow water pond. With warm temps and rain in the last two days, I figured the carp just might be active on this mid January day before the chill hits this weekend. I was right. We landed 3 decent size commons and a large sucker. Everything was on sweet corn. Nick, who catches carp most of the year in the warm months, landed his first two ever in January. We got them all on sweet corn fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball. For all you freshwater anglers sitting at home and waiting till spring or waiting for the ice to come, there is some good fishing to be had for big fish in open water. Today is proof that large carp can be caught in the dead of winter! Friday the 13th.....lucky day for us!

A Real Challenge....Catching a Carp in January

2012-01-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still carp fishing, and I am still catching. Realize almost no one fishes for carp in January and February here in RI. There's good reason for that. Carp are difficult to catch in cold water. When the water temperatures drop into the mid and low thirties as they have this week, the carp get difficult to catch since they go into a sort of semi hibernation. BUT, realize they can still be caught with some modification to your technique.
I'm on a roll, catching a carp or more every month in the last 2 years. Here are some of my observations of what has worked at this time. For bait, use sweet corn or small doughballs. Go light with the bait using only a couple of pieces of sweet corn with no method ball. Use the smallest sinker that will hold bottom. Go small with the hook ( #8 is ideal). Once ice forms on ponds, get into moving river waters that don't freeze. Carp will tap lightly in the cold and rarely will you get a screaming run. Pick up the rod and pull back on tapping rods. I like to use a rod pod in winter since I can't sink a bankstick in frozen ground.
I got out fishing yesterday and landed 3 carp (2 mirrors and a common) in a spot that had ice along the shore (see pic). Yes, they can be caught in the dead of winter!

2011 RI CAG Carp Fishing Video

2012-01-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

Here is the video of the 2011 fishing season starring some of our RI CAG members as well as some our our friends. It was a great fishing year for most of us. ENJOY!

First Carp of the Year on Jan.1

2012-01-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

I fished the CAG FFF (First Fishing Folly) yesterday. The FFF is a fun event sponsored by the national Carp Anglers Group. Carp fishermen from all over North America go out on Jan. 1 and try to catch a carp. You'd be surprised at some of the places where fish were caught yesterday......Canada, midwest near Chicago, upper New York State, California, and other southern areas to name just a few spots. I'm guessing there were about 100 fish caught nationwide by some of the best carp fishermen in the country. Some of the fish reached up in the high to mid twenties!

I've fished this event in other years and never caught a fish on New Year's Day. That changed yesterday as I did catch a common about 6 lbs. in a pond here in RI. Water temps were 39 degrees, lower than I expected. But, I did lure one fish and had another on. I got one fish on the books for 2012 and was happy to finally come away with one fish in the FFF.

Check out the Latest Article in On the Water Magazine

2012-01-01T06:01:00.000-08:00

My latest fishing article is in this month's issue of On the Water magazine. It is called Wintertime Carping, and it is a primer on catching carp in the cold months. Few fishermen would even think of fishing for carp in January and February in these parts, yet there are places where you can catch good size carp at this time. The article covers places to fish, rigging, baits and techniques that have to be modified in winter to get these fish to hit. Pre-ice, frozen conditions and ice out are cited as various times to fish from Dec. right through March. Lots of pictures illustrate the article. Check it out!

Yikes, Still Hitting on Dec. 28

2011-12-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

I've been out carp fishing four times in the last week and a half, fishing both shallow water ponds and river currents. I caught fish every outing, getting a mix of mirrors and commons. Today I landed two seven pound commons (see pic). This is real late in the year for fish to be active in the ponds here in RI. However, thanks to the warm weather, there is not a sliver of ice anywhere in all the places I have been. In fact, I stuck a thermometer in the water today and it read 45 degrees. Incredible for Dec. 28. Note that last year at this time you could ice fish on some of the ponds, and a foot of snow covered the ground. What a difference a year makes.
The fish have been hitting pineapple flavored sweet corn, my go to bait all fall. I will admit that the fish are sluggish on the take and sluggish on the fight due to the cold. But, hey, it's Dec. 28 and carp fishing is still going. Can't beat that!

Will 2012 be Your Year of the Carp?

2011-12-17T18:08:00.000-08:00

I came across this article: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/flytalk/2011/12/2012-year-carp The guy who wrote this is a blogger for Field and Stream, about the most mainstream magazine you could find. The writer, a fly fisherman, would like to make 2012 his Year of the Carp. He talks in glowing praise about catching carp on the fly rod, a far greater challenge he claims than catching trout or bass on the fly rod. Carp fishing is a sport that many fishermen around the country are now discovering and embracing. Many of the magazines are running features on fishing for carp. I guess they are no longer considered an "invasive species" in most parts of the country. Gee, with all the carp here in RI, maybe many of the fly rodders who only target trout should give this a try after trout fishing dies out. Just think, you could catch carp just about all year long here in RI. Think about the fight of a 20 lb. carp on a fly rod in a river current. Yikes! Realize, too, that we have about the best fishing for mirror carp in the entire USA right in our backyard (are you paying attention RI DEM) in the Blackstone River system. Many carp fishermen around the country are envious of what we have here in RI. So, my message here is that we have a fantastic underutilized resource right here in RI that is waiting to be discovered. Hopefully, 2012 be your Year of the Carp.

Switch to River Currents Pays Off

2011-12-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

Unless we have a real warm spell, I am done for the year with fishing in ponds and lakes. I blanked my last two outings in ponds so it was time to look elsewhere. In the past at this time, I have done much better at fishing oxygenated river currents where the fish are far more active. These are spots that have deep but moving water. Places below a waterfall are ideal places to try. Of course, moving water does present some problems. Foremost, you might have to increase you sinker size to hold bottom. You might also encounter more snags since river currents are always moving around trees, branches and junk.

My move to river currents paid off today as I landed 6 mirrors and 2 commons in an afternoon of fishing (see photos). They were not large fish, but they were very active. Hopefully, they will continue to cooperate since I plan to fish river currents all winter long.

Water Temps in the Upper 30's....End is Near

2011-12-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

Things have suddenly slowed down on the carp front. I've blanked two days in a row and have seen no activity. Water temps are now in the upper 30's and skim ice is forming at night in close to shore and in puddles. The end of pond and lake fishing is near here in RI. Credit the cool weather of the last few days and the cold nights in the 20's for the slowdown. In the past I have not been able to catch carp when the water temperatures in ponds and lakes drop below 38 degrees. Rivers currents are a different story. If you can find deep, moving, oxygenated water that holds fish, they will hit just about all winter long. The challenge is finding these spots. In most rivers, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack in 30 degree weather. So, I'm not quite ready to give up my pond and lake fishing, but I'm realizing that barring a heat wave, the end of the season is near.

Hot December Fishing

2011-12-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

This is the best first half of December I have ever fished for carp here in RI. I have been mainly focusing on the northern part of the state and catching fish in multiple spots. Other members of the RI Carp Anglers Group are also reporting good carp fishing in the eastern part of the state and the central part of the state. To give you an idea of how good it is, consider in the last three days I have landed 16 carp from 5-14 lbs. Those would be very good numbers in mid season, unheard of in December in RI. The fish are active. I have seen fish jumping and I have seen bubble trails in a number of locations. I'm also catching in the morning, mid day and even after dark. My biggest in the last few days came at 8 o'clock at night when temps were only in the thirties, but the fish were still hitting. My hot bait continues to be pineapple flavored sweet corn, although I know others are catching them on unflavored sweet corn. Enjoy this hot December fishing while you can because I assure you the end will be coming soon.

A Terrific December Outing

2011-12-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

At this time of year I am hoping to catch a fish or two. A good outing would yield one carp, any size. After all, this is December and many people say carp are not supposed to hit at all in cold water. Well, I'm not sold on that thinking as I have taken decent numbers of them in December in years past.
On this day after the big storm, everything was wrong.....cold with wind chills in the low 30's, very high water, big winds and leaves and debris all over the water. However, the carp were on a rampage. In a little over two hours, I landed 8 commons, my best December outing ever. I had no big ones, but I did land all scrappy 4-6 lbers. These fish were aggressive and from the screaming alarms, you'd think they were on an early fall feeding binge. All the fish were caught on pineapple flavored Pescaviva (sweet corn) fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball.

700th Carp of the Year

2011-12-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

I hit a real milestone today as I landed my 700th carp for 2011. It is the most carp I have ever caught in a single year, surpassing the 645 carp that I landed in 2009. This has been a great fishing year for me with loads of very large fish, several record breaking fish and big numbers of them.
I must say that getting that 700th fish was a chore. It has been great carp weather in the last few days but the carp have generally been uncooperative. In the last three days, I have been able to land only two fish, and that's about 15 hours of fishing. And, these were not headline fish with both commons going only 6-7 lbs. Not great, but hey, it's December 7, and last year at this time, pond and lake fishing was over with ice forming on the ponds and snow on the ground. With this year's warm weather, I predict I have at least a couple of more weeks of fishing. It will probably be slow going, but there are still fish to be had.

Still Worthwhile if you can Stand the Cold

2011-12-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

I got out yesterday morning. The wind was howling from the north and the temperatures were in the high thirties and low forties. It was cold. However, the carp were still hitting as I managed to land three fish. Realize that water temperatures are still quite warm for this time of year so the carp are still active. We have had no unusually cold weather at night so I suspect this fishing should continue to hold up until severe winter weather and the ice arrives. If you are planning on fishing in December, keep in mind the tactics I outlined in the last post. That's what has been working for me.

Pre Ice Tactics in Next Few Weeks

2011-11-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

I take a different approach as the water cools and the carp's metabolism slows down. With the water temps in the low forties right now, it is time to go to my cold water tactics. Here are some suggestions that seem to work well at this time of year.
1. Go with the smallest sinker possible that will hold bottom or get you out to where you want to cast.
2. Go with a small hook. I like the Umpua Tiemco 2457 #8.
3. Go small with the bait. I like either sweet corn (2 kernels on the hair rig) or small doughballs.
4. If you use a method ball, make it a small one.
5. Watch your rod tip. Carp have a habit of banging the bait and not really going off on a screaming run in cold water. If the rod keeps tapping, pick it up and pull and hope for the best.
6. Go easy on the prebaiting. Use a lot less.

I have found that carp keep hitting well in ponds and lakes until the water temps drop below 38 degrees. However, in moving water, they will hit throughout the winter months regardless of the water temps if you can find the places where they bunch up. So, there's lots of carp fishing ahead if you can stand the cold.

As Good As It Gets in November

2011-11-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

The weather turned warm and wet this week and the carp turned on. The last two days have featured the best carp fishing I have ever experienced in RI at this late time of year. I got out yesterday on that warm and drizzly day. I started catching one fish after another, landing a total of 14 carp in just a few hours of fishing! They were a sizes with the biggest going a whopping 25 lbs., very large by RI standards (see photo, left).

Today I went back out with my friend Nick (photo, right)and together we landed another 11 fish. Again, they were all sizes from a few pounds up to the low teens. It was rare to go fifteen minutes without an alarm sounding or a fish on. It was terrific action for a time of year in which one or two fish would be an accomplishment in past years.

The hot bait continues to be pineapple flavored Pescaviva (sold by http://www.wackerbaits.com/) fished ahead of an unflavored oatmeal based method ball. Take a look at the picture below of this bait set up and how it is done on the hair rig.

Equipment Details.....Record Catch

2011-11-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

A lot of people ask me what I use to catch many of the carp you see on this site. The truth is that I use three different pairs of outfits...lightweight, medium, and heavy duty. The record carp, my 36 pounder, was taken on my favorite outfit, my medium outfit. This is the outfit I use to catch about 80 percent of the carp I catch in a year.

So, here are the equipment details of that record catch:

Rod- 9 foot Chub Stalker Rod (Euro carp rod)

Reel- Shimano 3500B baitrunner reel

Line- Berkeley Big Game monofilament, 15 lb. test, clear

Sinker- 1 oz pear shaped no roll egg type, homemade, brown color

Hook- Umpqua Tiemco 2457, size #8

Bait- Pescaviva sweet corn, pineapple flavored, hair rigged, two kernels
Method- yes, oatmeal based method ball made with oatmeal, corn meal, bread and corn, no flavor
Alarms- Delkim mounted on bankstick
Net- Fox

RI Record Carp; Biggest Freshwater Fish Ever Landed in State

2011-11-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

I landed today what was the biggest freshwater fish ever caught in RI. It was a common carp that weighed 36 lbs. on the dot. That fish beat the RI carp record by several pounds. It also was a pound bigger than a 35 lb. record pike that was the biggest official fish every landed here in RI.
I landed the fish on a Chub Stalker carp rod with a Shimano 3500 Baitrunner reel that was spooled with 15 lb. test Berkley Big Game line. For bait, I was using Pescaviva pineapple flavored sweet corn on a hair rig (just a tiny #8 hook) that was fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball.
The fish will not go down as the official record because I released it. You see, here in RI, you must have an official state record weighed by a tackle shop with a certified scale. In order to do that, I would have had to have transported the fish many miles in a large cooler. It is likely that the stress of the travel and length of time would have killed the fish. So, I weighed it on my very accurate Berkeley digital scale, took some photos and released my prize to fight again. The fish should become the new CAG (Carp Angler Group) record for the state since that group only requires a weighing, a photo and a witness.

A Real Good Day

2011-11-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

It's November and carp fishing is supposed to be slowing down here in RI. However, there was nothing slow about today. My father and I got out this morning and the fishing was as hot as the weather. We landed a total of 9 carp from 6 lbs. into the low twenties. In fact, we had two fish over twenty pounds, terrific sized fish for this time of year. As has been the case most of this fall, pineapple flavored Pescaviva that I purchase from Wacker Baits was the hot ticket. It was fished with an oatmeal based method ball.

If you can get out and fish on these warm days in November and December, the fishing for carp can be exceptionally good as it was today.

Check out this Rare Catch

2011-11-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

No, this is not a computer generated paint job. One of our top carp fishermen from the RI CAG got out today and landed quite a surprise. It was his first ever giant koi. These fish do exist in many waters, but they are rare. They can be orange, white, red, black or a combination of colors. This one is particularly striking. Only a few have been caught by our members so this is indeed a rare prize.

Congrats to Jeff on an unusual and terrific catch.

Change in Wind, Warm Day, and Fishing Lights Up!

2011-11-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

For a November day, the carp fishing was very good today. I got out this morning and in a little over 2 hours, I landed 7 carp from 10-14 lbs.

Realize Novermber fishing is a roller coaster ride. Up one day, down the next. The fishing is greatly influenced by the weather in November. Today offered a change to warmer conditions, just what you want. Since that freak snowstorm a few days back, the wind had been blowing from the north or northeast and it has been cold. But today, we had a switch to the southwest and far warmer conditions. That was just enough to turn the carp on and get them hitting again. Pineapple Pescaviva was the hot bait again today as it has been most of the fall.
By the way, the water temperature today was a cool 49 degrees, colder than I expected. In the past, the fish have continued hitting in most places as long as the water temps stayed above 38 degrees.

600th Carp of this Year Landed

2011-11-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

I got number 600 for the year yesterday morning. This is a milestone for one year that I have reached only one other time in the past. The fish was a good looking common of about 10-12 lbs. While the carp fishing has slowed down considerably, I am still catching some fish. I am getting one or two an outing with the hot bait being pineapple flavored Pescaviva fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball. I am still seeing carp rolling and jumping, though not as many as I saw a month ago. So, fishing is still worthwhile. If you can pick your days, fish the warm days of November and try to fish the warmest part of the day.

In a Major Slowdown

2011-10-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Since that big rainstorm last week that dumped upwards of 3 inches of rain and the cold days that followed, we have been in a major slowdown. I have been out in a number of places in the last few days and have only taken one mid sized mirror. The water in most ponds is very high and in the woods in most places. The Blackstone River has not been fishable for a week now due to high and fast moving water. I also noticed that nothing is going on at night, probably due to the cold temperatures. So, we are headed for November and the fishing is marginal at best. Make no mistake about it. Carp fishing slows down greatly at this time of year. The fish's activity levels and feeding levels slow in the cooling waters. Peak time has passed and the fishing is nowhere near what it was one or two months ago. However, there still are fish available, and that's what will keep me fishing till the ice comes and beyond.

They Don't Always Hit

2011-10-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

If you've tried carp fishing and blanked, rest assured you are not alone. They are moody fish greatly influenced by weather changes. They are difficult fish to catch on rod and reel at times as they don't always hit.

Yesterday the RI CAG held their annual fall fish-in at Scotts Pond in Lincoln, a place that has a lot of fish. For two days I prebaited the area with about 5 gallons of maize. There were 11 of us fishing, with many of the guys being highly experienced at this. The result.....not one carp was caught in four hours of fishing. The lone fish that was landed was a horned pout (see photo). This clearly proves that carp don't always hit.

Up until mid week, the October fishing in RI was red hot. On Wed., we had a big rainstorm that dumped over two inches of rain on the state and caused very high water everywhere. I suspect that storm, along with some cooler weather that followed, shut things down. I've tried several spots since Wed. and landed a grand total of one small mirror carp. They are just not hitting right now.

You Need the TOTAL PACKAGE

2011-10-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

I've met a lot of non carp fishermen in the last two months who see me catching fish. Their first question is "what are you using for bait?" What they should be asking is about my set up. You see, without the proper set up, using the right bait is worthless.

You need the total package for this to work. Here is a list of what needs to be put together if you expect to consistently catch fish.
1. Do you have the right kind of sinker and size sinker (egg sinkers, 1/2 to 1 oz work well in ponds)?
2. Is your leader or hooklink the right length (6-9 inches)?
3. Do you have the right hook (size 6 or 8 generally does the trick and use a carp hook)?
4. Is your hair rig set up right (right length for your bait)?
5. Finally, are you using the right bait (type and flavor)?

Many wanna be carp fishermen are using hooks that are too large (take a look at ridiculous photo of corn packed hook I found at left), looped hook rigs that are geared to flounder or scup fishing, excessive hardware like wire leaders, and reels that have worthless drags. Come on guys, the info is out there. Get in the game.

82 Year Old Nails RI PB

2011-10-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

My 82 year old father, Ralph Pickering, landed a RI PB common today. The fish weighed 21 lbs. It was caught on pineapple flavored Pescaviva fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball. We had a great day of fishing today as we landed a total of 13 carp and this was the biggest.

Another 20 lber. Visits the Shore

2011-10-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

We carp fishermen never tire of catching 20 lb. carp, a fish considered "big" here in RI. I've landed a good number of 20's this October with fishing in the daytime being particularly hot. Today I landed this 21 lb. common. This big fish hit pineapple Pescaviva fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball, a very hot combination all this month.

A Terrific Week

2011-10-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

It has been a terrific week of carp fishing for me here in RI, one of the very best weeks I have ever encountered in fall fishing. In the last four days I have landed 40 carp (see pics of two of my fish). Most have been good sized fish from 8-18 lbs. What's amazing is that I have been catching in a variety of spots so that says that the fish are very active for this time of year. I consider it a good day if I can get one or two of these hard to catch fish an outing, so averaging ten fish a day is phenomenal. The hot bait this week has been pineapple flavored Pescaviva, a sweet corn sold by Wacker Baits (http://www.wackerbaits.com/) . When fished ahead of a method ball, it has far outfished everything else I have tried (and I tried a lot of different baits). So, if you are looking for some hot action, get out and try because it is happening right now.

Most Carp in One Day!

2011-10-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

I landed the most carp I have ever caught in a day of carp fishing here in RI. In just three hectic hours of non-stop action, I landed 20 carp from 5-16 lbs. and had at least another five fish on! I suspect the cool and cloudy weather sent these fish on a feeding spree, and I was in the right spot at the right time. The action for the last week has been the best I have ever seen in October as I have been getting lots of fish and some big ones too. Hot baits have been scopex pescaviva and pineapple flavored pop-up boilies fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball. The hot fishing should continue until the real cold weather sets in. I suspect that will occur in mid November. So, we have about one good month left of fishing.

Real Big Mirrors This Week

2011-10-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

It's definitely big fish time here in RI. I have targeted large mirrors this week getting many in the teens upwards to over 20 lbs., very large mirrors by RI standards.The hot bait continues to be 10 mm pop up pineapple flavored boiles from World Classic Baits.

Mystery Solved.....Official Word.......Not a Record Bullhead

2011-10-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

Two posts ago I reported catching a large "catfish" that I thought at first could have been a RI record brown bullhead. I sent a load of photos to the state DEM for positive identification. I also sent the photos to the Carp Angler Group Forum where there are many catfish experts. Word from the state biologist was that he thought it was a white catfish. Word from the Forum was unanimous that it was a channel cat. So, from these replies we can definitely conclude that the fish in question was NOT a brown bullhead. The forked tail (see photo) was the clue that ruled out a bullhead and made this fish some type of catfish.

Gardner Camera Angle......A Real Handy Device

2011-10-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

Most of the pictures you see of me holding large carp on this site were taken by a self timer shot with my camera. I usually set the camera for a 20 second delay and set it to take 5 shots in succession. In order to do this right, the camera must be mounted on a device such as a tripod. I'm sick of lugging my tripod around so I bought a neat device called the Gardner Camera Angle. This small device is really a camera "holder" that screws into a bankstick. Since I always carry an extra bankstick for my throwing spoon, this was easy to set up on that stick. The device has a ball and socket with a handle that lets you rotate the camera and then lock it in place if you need to change the angle. It works terrific. They sell for about $18 at Wacker Baits (www.wackerbaits.com ). They are also sold at Big Carp Tackle. Avoid the cheaper models since they are not good quality (sent one back). Take a look at the latest picture using the camera angle to snap a shot of a beautiful 20 lb. mirror that I caught today

State Record Brown Bullhead or Big Channel Cat

2011-10-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

I landed today what at first I thought to be the new state record for horned pout, or brown bullhead. But, it could also be a channel cat. The fish weighed (officially on tackle shop certified scale) 6 lbs. 15 oz., and the tackle shop identified it as a brown bullhead. I filled out all the paper work, took a load of pictures, and will file it with the state. I am hoping the biologists will positively identify the fish by the pictures I took. It looks like a bullhead as far as color, but has the tail of a cat. I caught this fish while fishing for carp in the Blackstone River, a place I had never seen a channel cat. The fish hit a pineapple flavored boilie intended for carp. After catching, I kept the fish in a net then transferred it to a large cooler and brought the fish for offical weigh-in at Big Bear Tackle Shop in Harmony. Later, the fish was brought back to the river in the cooler and released alive.

Get Together Leads to PB

2011-10-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

Four members of the RI CAG got together in a new venue today to fish for carp. It was myself, Jeff, Keith, and Nick. We had some decent success in the short session we were there. Keith landed a couple of decent commons of 10-12 lbs. (see photo at left) while Nick hit the jackpot with a smooth skinned 17 lb. mirror (see photo at right), his personal best (PB) for mirrors. Nick also landed a small common. Members of the RI CAG frequently get together and fish in small groups. I also try to get out with all our new members to show them the ropes and get them started. The RI CAG also holds at least two fish-ins a year in which all members try to get out and fish together and share information.

500th Carp of 2011

2011-09-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

I landed my 500 th carp for the 2011 season today (see pic). It was a beautiful common of about 12-13 lbs. About 80 % of my fish this year have been mirrors so this guy came as a bit of a surprise. It is only the second time in my carp fishing career that I have been able to hit the 500 fish mark.
It continues to be a record breaking year for me with more large fish than I have ever landed in RI. I've gotten some real quality with three fish in the thirties (two from RI and one from MA) and countless big mirrors in the high teens and twenties. I am still looking for that super fish in the mid thirties to low forties that I do believe exists in RI, quite possibly at an unknown venue that I am searching for.

TWO THIRTIES in a Week

2011-09-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

I took me twenty years to nail my first RI thirty pound carp. It took me just one week to catch my second thirty! One week ago I landed a 33 lb. 2 oz common carp, a fish that would have qualified as a new state record had I killed the fish and had it officially weighed. Instead, I released it Today I got another 30 lber. that just hit the 30 mark that I also released (sorry, no picture). I got today's fish in a different location than last week's lunker. Big fish are hitting right now in RI as they are feeding up for fall and the coming winter. It is prime time to catch the fish, or two, of a lifetime.

50,000 HITS!

2011-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Wow, the blog hit a real milestone this week with 50,000 hits. I started this blog two and a half years ago as an informational website for RI anglers interested in carp fishing. Originally, it was meant to be a communication tool for our RI Carp Anglers Group (CAG) that I run here in RI. Well, things have taken off and the blog has enjoyed national and international fame as it has been visited by carp fishermen from all over the US as well as in Europe. I was surprised to see the site showing up in search engines in the UK as well as in other parts of Europe. It just goes to show the high interest in carp fishing. I'm honored by the response that the blog has gotten and will continue to bring you the latest info on carp fishing.
Enjoy and thanks for all your support,
Dave Pickering

Pop-Ups Hot Once Again

2011-09-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a real big week for me here in RI. Yes, that 33 lber. was the highlight, but I have also been banging a lot of big mirrors while fishing in the morning in various spots along the Blackstone River. Without question, the hottest bait of the week for me has been 10 mm pop-up boiles from World Classic Baits. I am using these in a pineapple flavor. These pop-ups move alluringly above the sinker when used in a river current. I think that provides added attraction which the carp just love, especially when you pack your sinker with a method ball of bait (see photo). This bait combination has outfished everything else I have tried in the Blackstone. It has accounted for a number of large mirrors up to 22 lbs. for in the last week.

Potential State Record RELEASED.....33 lbs., 2 oz.

2011-09-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I got the fish I have been trying to catch for a long time. A RI thirty had eluded me until today. In a little known carp venue that I had been trying on and off with marginal success, I hit the jackpot on this rainy and nasty day. I landed the RI common of my dreams, a 33 lb. 2 oz. hog of a fish. It was one of the fattest and widest fish I have ever landed. It was caught on scopex flavored Pescaviva (imported sweet corn) fished ahead of an oatmeal based method ball.
The fish would have probably established a RI state record as the current record is 32 lbs. 8 oz. landed by former RI CAG member Steve Wasliewski. However, to qualify as an official state record, the fish must be brought to a tackle store and weighed on a certified scale. With this late afternoon catch, it would have been impossible to get this fish weighed alive. So, I let it go. I got far more satisfaction watching it swim away than I would have gotten with my name in the record book. And, who knows we could meet up again when this big girl is a mid thirty! I did get several pics and I had two witnesses that saw the whole thing.
I do plan to enter this fish in the CAG (Carp Angler Group) record catch list where you only need a weigh in and a witness. It should establish a new RI CAG record for common carp. I landed the new RI record for mirrors at 25 lbs. back in June.

NEWS FLASH......RI RECORD COMMON CARP LANDED

2011-09-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

I got the biggest carp I have ever landed in RI waters today. In fact, it was the potential state record, a fish in the thirties. More info, pics and the full story are coming. Stay tuned.

Do You Need the Hair Rig?

2011-09-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

This is a question asked so many times by beginning carp fishermen. The answer is no. I know many fishermen want to try carp fishing but lack the knowledge to tie their own hair rigs, and they don't have stuff like bait needles and hair stops that go along with hair rigging.

When using a hair rig, you are putting the bait on a string that dangles off the bend of the hook. You are fishing an exposed hook and this offers a very efficient way of hooking a carp that takes your bait. For most experienced carp fishermen who use a variety of baits, it is the preferred way to fish. However, beginning carpers can put the bait directly on the hook provided the bait is soft. Packing bait on a hook (see pic of sweet corn on hook) works well if you are using soft baits such as sweet corn or dough. Both of these baits are soft, and the hook will pull through the bait easily to hook a carp that hits. Note that this works especially well only if you are using the right hooks. You want to go small on the hook with sizes #6 or #8 being ideal. Most beginner carp fishermen are using hooks that are way too big for carp which tend to have small round mouths (see photo). If you are a beginner or a fisherman who wants to try carp fishing, you don't need a hair rig to catch these fish.

Acorns for Bait, Huh?

2011-09-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

I got out today and fished with one of our experienced members named Tom. We were sitting under an oak tree talking carp and hoping for a fish. Not much was happening on our lines that were baited with sweet corn. We started talking about acorns for bait, and I told Tom about one of our former members, John Joseph, who actually used to use shelled acorns and who actually caught fish on them.

So, Tom decided to shell a couple of small acorns and hair rigged them ahead of a method ball. It took about three minutes for his alarm to scream and he was onto a mid sized common. Yes, this fish hit an ACORN! I decided to try one and within a short period of time, I was onto a fish and soon landed another common on an ACORN (see fish at left). It was an eye opener.
If you are into trying this, try to fish a "greenish" acorn, crack it open and you will see a seed-like middle to it. The baiting needle passes through this easily and you are ready to hair rig this bait (see photo at right). Tom claims he is going to try flavoring some and try using some in a natural state. I believe him because as I left he was crawling along the ground gathering acorns like a busy squirrel.

A Good Session

2011-09-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Paul and I went out carp fishing this morning at one of our favorite spots. It was a gorgeous late summer day with near perfect temperatures, and the carp were active. We had a number of hits and runners and we landed four good looking commons that went 6-7 lbs. In addition, we landed 4 snapping turtles (yes, they are still active). The hot bait today was doughballs fished off the hair rig. Late summer and fall is a great time to get out carp fishing here in RI as the boating activity decreases, temperatures are just right and the fish are hitting.

Hurricane Carpin

2011-08-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I love fishing in nasty weather. I have made a career out of bad weather fishing in both saltwater and freshwater, and I’ve had some of my biggest and most memorable days of fishing in stormy weather. Yes, I did fish on Sunday in Hurricane Irene. I went down to my backyard swim (Scott’s Pond) in the afternoon after the storm started to calm down. I was in a safe and protected spot with the wind at my back. What a view of the lake with the rain coming down horizontally in sheets and the wind just whipping huge trees like they were bushes. Like most fish, carp just love this weather. It seems to charge them up, and they usually feed big time as all kinds of food is being blown into the water. They didn’t disappoint as I landed three beautiful mirrors on scopex flavored Pescaviva corn. Another bad weather day turns into a good fishing day. My kind of fishing weather!

Note: I wrote this article on Sunday, but with no electricity or Internet service for over 3 days, it has taken a while to post.

New CAG Member Scores

2011-08-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

I went out this morning with one of our new CAG members named Mathew. I try to get out with all our new members to show them the ropes and get them going in the right direction. While Mathew was new to the RI CAG, he was not new to carp fishing since the guy was an experienced carp fisherman who used to fish for carp a lot in Poland. Mathew had the whole hair rig/ method ball/rigging thing down real well. He used boilies he made himself. I quite surprised that he flavored them with garlic, a flavor he claims is real good. Well, the two of us landed 5 carp and a massive snapping turtle that weighed about 70-80 lbs., one of the biggest I have ever seen.

If you are into carp fishing, consider joining our group. We are always looking for new members. You automatically become a member of the RI CAG group when you join the national Carp Anglers Group (http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/). Membership information is online.

What is Pescaviva?

2011-08-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Experienced carp fishermen know Pescaviva is one of the most effective carp baits to use at this time. Pescaviva is actually a can of flavored corn. What sets this apart from other corn is that it is not really sweet corn and not really the beefier maize. It is sort of a cross between the two. The kernels are small like sweet corn, but are incredibly durable and firm for their size. The flavoring is top notch. I tend to use it at this time of year because the fish tend to be fussy in the heat and are really looking for sweet corn, yet it is so delicate that turtles, horned pout and bluegills can readily pick it apart. They are not so successful at stealing the Pescaviva. If you are into buying this stuff, it is not cheap, selling for $5 a can from Wacker Baits, www.wackerbaits.com I like to put a small amount of this corn into a small container and put the rest in the fridge to be used at a later date, so a can will last most fishermen a long time. The best flavors to use around here are pineapple, scopex (often sold out) and tutti-fruitti.

Best Week in Months

2011-08-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

The carp fishing lit up this week as I had the best week of fishing in months. I landed over 30 carp in the last week with many fish in the 10-14 lb. range while fishing here in RI and nearby MA. Best outing was 9 fish in a couple of hours, terrific fishing for this time of year. I have been getting most of my fish while fishing in the morning. Most have been caught on Scopex Pescaviva corn (more about this in next post) fished on a hair rig and fished ahead of a method ball. Hopefully this prefall fishing will continue.

400th Carp Landed in Hot August Fishing

2011-08-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

I hit some hot fishing in the last three days. In fact, it was some of the best August fishing that I have ever experienced here in RI. Landed well over 20 carp with sizes reaching up into the teens. Credit the heavy rains and cool temperatures of the last few days for getting these fish active and ending the doldrums that I had been experiencing.
In that load of fish, I landed my 400 th carp of the 2011 season (see pic at right). It is always my goal to try to reach 500 fish as well as take some quality fish. I've got the quality, as I landed a RI CAG mirror record of 25 lbs. as well as a big 32 lb. mirror that I got in MA that won the Big Mirror Prize in the CAG Big 4 tournament in May. I've also landed more big mirrors over 15 lbs. than I have ever caught. If I can get another 100 carp which seems likely, I will have reached my goal for 2011!

Uptick in Fishing

2011-08-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

There has been an uptick in carp fishing in the past week. The week before we hit rock bottom with the fishing being poor, but the fishing in the last few days has greatly improved. I suspect the rain and cooler weather has gotten the fish in a feeding mood. This is not a fall feeding spree but certainly an improvement over where we were a week ago.
I went out today in the pouring rain, my type of fishing weather. I had the best outing in a month, catching 4 commons (see photo at left) and 2 mirrors in two different spots here in RI. A couple of days back I went up into MA and landed 5 small mirrors in another location. So, clearly the fish are hitting in a variety of spots. The best bait continues to be sweet corn on the hair rig. I'm generally using two kernels of pineapple flavored sweet corn with an ending kernel of maize. The maize is far more durable and if bluegills pick off the delicate sweet corn, I still have a kernel of maize on the hair rig. It has worked real well in the last week.

Dog Days of August

2011-08-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

We are in the dog days of August. It is the slowest time of the year for carp fishing. But, there are fish still hitting, and you can still catch carp in August here in RI (see pic of one I got this morning). While you will catch reduced numbers, I think carp fishing is still one of your best fishing bets here in RI if you are a saltwater or freshwater fisherman. I have been out the last 5 days and have averaged two fish an outing. Some of these fish have been decent, running into the low teens. I am also getting other carp hits, fish on and horned pout when fishing in the evening. It's not hot fishing, but the fish are still hitting in this heat.
My go to bait has been sweet corn on the hair rig. I'm using my own flavored sweet corn with tutti-fruitti and pineapple being the hot flavors. I'm also prebaiting with field corn any areas that I am fishing. It has made a big difference in my success.

Keeping Bait Choices Simple

2011-07-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Anyone new to carp fishing is faced with far too many bait choices. I've seen fishermen show up with upwards of dozens of types of baits and scents loaded into a suitcase. It's far too much for fishermen that can only put out two rods. My suggestion is to keep the summer bait choices simple.

Three types of bait work well in the summertime:

1. Doughballs- These are actually breadballs made from the white part of a slice of bread. You can either pack this on a hook and freeline or roll some marble sized balls, let them harden in the sun and use them on the hair rig. This bait works real well where do gooders feed bread to ducks.

2. Maize or Sweet Corn- Corn always works, especially in places where you can prebait or chum ahead of time. I especially like sweet corn on the hair rig, though it can really attract turtles. In that situation, you may have to use maize. If you are into flavoring, try pineapple or another fruit flavor. However, remember that unflavored bait is often more effective than using the wrong flavor.

3. Small boilies- I have written before about the effectiveness of 10 mm pop up boilies. You can add a kernel of sweet corn to this offering or use the boilie alone. I especially like Scopex or pineapple flavor from World Classic Baits.

Carp vs. Turtles....Race to the Bait

2011-07-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

We are in the hottest time of the year, and that means that turtles are real active. In the last two weeks of fishing it has been a race as to which species, carp or turtle, can get to the bait first. In that period of time I have landed about 12 carp and exactly 7 snapping turtles. And, I'm not even counting the numerous times that sun turtles have chewed the bait, cut the hair and even eaten the hair stop. Here's a few tips on dealing with turtles.
1. Limit the prebaiting. Turtles will come to baited areas like bees to honey.
2. Move after the first turtle. You'd be surprised...moving to a new spot just 20 yards away may get you away from the turtles.
3. Forget method mix. Method is just a pile of bait that will greatly attract turtles.
4. Some places have big populations of turtles, some places don't. Stay away from "turtle spots" on hot days when they are most active.

Small but Active and Feisty

2011-07-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

A small carp here in RI is about 5 lbs., give or take a couple of pounds. In the dead of summer when everything slows down, the bigger carp are hard to find and hard to catch. However, the small ones remain active and plentiful in spots. I have been out in the last two mornings and have found good numbers of smaller ones that are actively feeding and hitting freelined doughballs. I see fish breaking here and there, and they seem to hit well up until noontime. These small ones are real feisty once hooked. They will cartwheel around, rip drag and continue the fight until they are in the net. I'm guessing they could win a tug-of-war against a fat and lazy 20 lber.

Video....Freelining Mulberries for Carp

2011-07-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hot Fishing with Mulberries

2011-07-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

In the last two days I have abandoned sweet corn and boilies on the hair rig in favor of freelined mulberries. The mulberries are dropping big time right now throughout New England. If you know of a tree along a shoreline or riverbank, the carp should be below the tree big time scooping up every berry they can find. They are like ravenous eaters at a Chinese buffet on half price Wednesdays.

If you plan on fishing with mulberries, you need to find a tree along the water's edge. This does not work if you pick berries miles from the pond and transport them there to fish. The fish must be conditioned to eat them. Freelining is the best way to fish these. I use a #8 Tiemco hook that is tied directly to the end of my line (see photo). The berry is impaled and cast. If you want the berry to sink just squeeze it a bit. The fish will usually hit as soon as the berry hits the water. These mulberries are so good that in the last two mornings I have landed 10 large mirrors (see photo of one of them) while freelining mulberries in some of my secret spots.

Best Sweet Corn

2011-07-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

I had been pushing Green Giant Super Sweet Corn as the best stuff to use when using sweet corn for carp. Now, I have found something even better. Great Value Sweet Corn, the brand sold by Walmart, is better and cheaper. The kernels are larger and they seem to be more durable. There was a thread about this on the CAG Forum and it appears that many carp fishermen around the country who use sweet corn for bait prefer this brand. My friend and fellow RI CAGer, Jeff, uses this stuff and soaks it in alum overnight before flavoring it, and he claims it hardens the skin on the corn. Might be worth trying.

Summer Slowdown Arrives

2011-07-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

The postspawn feed is over and the summer slowdown has begun just like it always does around July 1. The fish are still around, but you will have to adjust your times to maximize your fishing opportunities. With warming temperatures and water, the fish have become less active in the warmest times of the day. So, if you are looking for the best action, fish the best times. Those times are early morning, evening and nighttime. Cool, rainy days can also be productive. I am getting reports from all the RI CAG guys from around the state and just about all report slowing action compared to a few weeks ago. I have been catching fewer fish and smaller fish in the last week and have seen less activity all around RI. What can I say, summer is here.

No Kids but Lots of Carp

2011-06-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

We held our Take a Kid Carp Fishing Day yesterday at Brickyard Pd. in Barrington. Well, no kids showed up to fish so my friend and fellow RI CAGer Nick and I decided to fish. The carp were hitting and very active as we landed 6 small commons in about 2 1/2 hours and had a few more hits and misses. We also landed 6 snapping turtles as this place is loaded with these pests. The plentiful carp here really go for freelined doughballs. The fish in this pond are generally small commons with 4-6 lbs. being average.

One highlight for me was that I landed my 300th carp for 2011 (see pic).

New RI CAG Mirror Record....25 lbs.!

2011-06-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I landed the pending RI CAG mirror record of 24 lbs., 4 oz. Tonight I broke that same record with a 25 lb. mirror. It was taken on a pineapple pop up boilie (told you they were hot) along with a single kernel of tutti-fruitti sweet corn hair rigged ahead of an oatmeal based method ball. This is the third PB mirror that I have taken from RI waters in the last three weeks. Hot fishing for big mirrors right now.

Take A Kid Carp Fishing Day...Sat., June 25

2011-06-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Carp Anglers Group (CAG) has designated the weekend of June 25, 26 as Take A Kid Carp Fishing Days. To celebrate this event the RI CAG will hold a carp fishing morning fish-in at Brickyard Pond in Barrington, RI on Sat., June 25, from 9-noontime. We will be running our own kid's carp fishing day along the eastern shore that runs along the Bike Path (access off side streets off Maple Ave. in Barrington). So, if there are any kids along with parents who would like to attend and learn about carp fishing, please come and join us. You can bring along your own equipment or even use some of our fancy stuff. We'll set you up with rigs and bait, and hopefully you will catch your first carp.

Pop-ups....Hot Bait Tip

2011-06-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

I am on a roll this week banging one big mirror after another up over 20 lbs. while fishing the Blackstone River. My key to success is a new tactic for me using 10 mm pop-up boilies. I got these from World Classic Baits, http://www.worldclassicbaits.com/ If you never fished these before, they are small boilies that basically float. I have been putting one of these on the hair along with a kernel of flavored sweet corn. The pop-up floats alluringly just above the sinker. The carp seem to pounce right on it. I have been fishing two rods, one with the pop-up boilie and one with just maize and sweet corn, and the pop up has far outfished regular maize and sweet corn. I am using pineapple flavored pop ups. Terrific bait!

RI Mirror PB

2011-06-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

I got a RI mirror PB (personal best) today. I've taken many large mirrors from MA waters up to 36 lbs. but my PB from RI was 21 1/2 lbs. Today I bested that by a pound and a half as I landed a 23 lber. Got it on a mix of wild whiskey maize with kernels of pineapple sweet corn on the hair rig. It was a good looking fish and a personal accomplishment though I am still searching for a RI 30 lb. mirror. I think I have I good idea where I might find it!

Turtles, Carp and Doughballs

2011-06-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

I went out today with fellow RI CAGer Paul, and we hit a hot pond on the east side of the Bay. More than just carp were real active today. We landed 6 commons and 3 snapping turtles, two of which were the size of man hole covers. The key to fishing this place where the fish can be finicky was using freelined doughballs.

Freelining is fishing with just the bait on the hook......no sinker. In this case we were using #8 hooks and we packed the white part of a slice of bread around the hook forming a small ball about the size of a marble. It is cast out and I like to fish the reel with an open bail. It is amazing how effective this can be. Today we each fished two outfits....one freelined and the other with a sinker and hair rigged hook. Without question, the freelined set ups got most of the attention from both the turtles and the carp. Realize the disadvantage to freelining is that you miss a high percentage of hits.

32 Lb. Carp Captures Big Mirror Award in Big 4

2011-06-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

My big mirror carp of 32 lbs. 10 oz. captured the "Biggest Mirror" Award in the recent North American Big 4 contest sponsored by the Carp Anglers Group. The Big 4 is one of the biggest and most popular carp fishing contests sponsored by this group. This is a contest for CAG members, and some of the top carp fishermen in the US, Canada and Mexico compete. The event ran the entire month of May. It was set up as a contest in which the angler enters his four biggest carp for the month. In addition there are awards for the largest common and the largest mirror carp. Last year I entered the same contest and logged in the second biggest mirror at 29 lb. 8 oz. Though I was hoping for a high 30 or even a 40, I am pleased with this year's catch, my second biggest carp I have ever caught. For my prize I won a gift certificate to World Classic Baits.

The Right Hook

2011-06-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

I've taken out a number of our new CAG guys and if there is one theme I am seeing it has to do with hooks. They need to hook up with better hooks. The hook is probably the most important part of your terminal set up. It is critical that you use a strong, sharp hook that is of high quality. You also need to use the right size. Either a size #6 for average to large fish or a size #8 for small fish.

So, what are the best hooks out there to purchase. If you are looking for a good buy and quality, try the Umpqua Tiemco hooks (no. 2457). These are actually nymph fly tying hooks but work real well for carp when hair rigged. You can get these at a company called Fishwest. Shipping is free. If you are looking for some top of the line stuff, try Kamassan Carp Maxx hooks sold at Wacker Baits. These are super hooks intended for real large fish. They are also quite expensive. I've tried other name brand hooks (Fox, Wacker brand, etc.) but I have found them to be pricey and of questionable quality. Without the right hook, you may as well stay home because you will not catch much on large or poor quality hooks.

From a Good Day to a Bad

2011-06-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

Jeff Allard and I went out a few days ago to explore a new spot. It was as hot as it could get as we landed 12 big mirrors that went from 12-22 lbs. The hits were fast and furious, and the fish were super aggressive.
Suddenly, the unthinkable happened. My outfit was sitting on a bankstick with an alarm. Of course, the reel was in freespool. Without warning I had a violent hit, and the reel started spinning at a high rate of speed. In the blink of an eye the rod lifted off the bankstick and flew into the water. Just like that....GONE. Jeff and I tried for about an hour to snag it, but no luck. I suspect the freespool failed or the line came off the reel at such a high speed that it tangled within the spool. So, I join the club of many who have lost an outfit to an aggressive carp.

In a Summer Pattern

2011-06-02T11:37:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago when the temperatures were in the 50's the carp could be seen sunning themselves in the sunlit water, trying to get warm. Now that we are seeing summer temperatures in the 80's you see them in those same spots hiding in the shade trying to cool off. Welcome to summer.
We are now in a summer pattern of fishing. Best times to fish are in low light.... early morning, evening/nighttime and lousy, rainy days. Daytime action, good just two weeks ago, is nearly dead on a sunny day. So, if you want to catch, you will need to adjust your times of fishing to those peak times. Take a look at this 16 lber. I took just a few nights ago while fishing after dark.

Carp Spawning, Big Time

2011-05-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

It took three eighty degrees days to get things going, but the carp are now spawning in most ponds and lakes in RI. It has come right on schedule as Memorial Day weekend has been the traditional time they spawn here in RI.
Carp will not hit while spawning. Several males are chasing and butting a female in shallow water, and that is all they are interested in doing (can you blame them?). If you are looking to fish, the key is to hit another spot where the fish have spawned already or where the spawn is delayed. I can tell you that some carp already spawned two to three weeks ago in very small and shallow places. In most places, however, it is going on right now.

Latest Magazine Article

2011-05-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

My latest magazine article appears in the June issue of On the Water magazine. The article is about targeting both carp and catfish here in southern New England Waters. We all know that carp exist in many, many places here in RI, but did you know that white cats also exist in many of those same waters. The article outlines ideas and strategies to target both species at the same time.

More Impressive Catches for RI CAGers

2011-05-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

This has been another big week for RI CAGers as impressive catches keep coming. Jeff, our best RI big carp fishermen, landed an impressive 29 lb. common (see photo). Jason, one of our new guys, had a couple of mid teen commons, PBs for him. I had a bunch of teens and a large fish of 22 lbs. It's been a hot spring for big fish as our guys continue to rack up some impressive catches.

200th Carp of the Year

2011-05-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

I got number 200 for the season yesterday. It is the earliest date I have ever reached the 200 mark. It is only fitting that this fish was a mirror since nearly all the fish I have landed this year have been mirrors. This 8-9 lb. fish hit a combination of pineapple and tutti-fruitti sweet corn fished off the hair rig. The weather has been crappy but the carp fishing remains good.

RI CAGers Lighting Things Up

2011-05-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

The carp fishing is hot right now. Carp are in the prespawn mode here in RI. They are active and feeding up before spawning. Females are their heaviest as they are loaded with eggs. Reports are coming in saying our RI CAG members are scoring big here and in nearby MA. To give you an idea of what is happening, member Tom e-mailed about a 26 lb. PB common that he landed this week on a boilie. Jeff and Greg hit one of their spots yesterday and came away with many mirrors up into the upper teens while fishing maize and sweet corn. I have landed countless mirrors in the teens, some in the 20's and a monster of 32 lbs. in the last 10 days. It's about as good as it gets right now.

Discovering New Spots

2011-05-14T18:24:00.001-07:00

This is the year that I have really concentrated on carp fishing in new spots. And, the results have been outstanding. I have caught and landed more big mirrors than I have ever caught. Today I fished a new spot that I have been baiting up and landed two good sized mirrors in the teens. My approach has been to do a lot of walking and bike riding in the morning just looking for new spots. When I see fish I begin baiting these spots and return a day or two later to fish. Sometimes the spot really produces, sometimes it doesn't. In today's "new" spot I saw about a dozen carp two days ago that went from 12-18 lbs. Today I went back and fished and fooled a couple of those big boys (see pics).

Potential RI CAG Mirror Record Released

2011-05-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today I landed the biggest mirror carp that I ever caught here in RI. I am guessing that it was in the mid 20's which would have made it the CAG record. I was in a spot where I never expected to catch a fish even close to this large so I had no camera, no scale and there was no witness. You can see I was really prepared for this. I could have kept the fish and taken it home but in my opinion it was more valuable released than being kept for the record. It was also filled with eggs.
The state does not keep records for mirror carp. It only has one official record for carp in general (mirror or common). However, the CAG does keep records for both mirror carp and commons for each state. My friend, Jeff Allard, has the RI CAG mirror record at 23.5 lbs. In order to get your name in the CAG record books, you do need a picture and it has to be weighed on a decent scale and you must be a CAG member. They also suggest you have a witness.
So, the morale of this story is to be prepared because you never know when a record fish will come your way.

Think FINESSE

2011-05-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

Think FINESSE. Unlike other types of fishing, carp fishing is really a finesse game. Every aspect of the fishing from the way you tie your hair rigs to the terminal gear you are using to the bait presentation all make a big difference as to whether you catch fish or not. Here are some tips to improve your "finesse" approach. Use small hooks, either a size # 6 (bigger fish) or #8 (smaller fish). Quality carp hooks sold online are sharp and strong. Take care in tying hair rigs. Many fishermen like to use 50 lb. test braid and use a knotless knot when tying (see my videos). How long is the hair in back of your hook? Once the bait is attached, it should dangle 1/8 to 1/4 inch off the bend of the hook, no more. Use egg sinkers or inline leads. I can't tell you how many guys use the plastic laden, gaudy fishfinder rig sliders made for saltwater and then they clip on a big ugly bank sinker. Come on guys, think FINESSE. Putting corn on the hair....use two or three kernels. Sometimes less is better. If you are using boilies, go with smaller ones for average size fish. A carp under 15 lbs. has a very small mouth and is not capable of mouthing a large bait. Think of the size of your mouth. Could you eat a grapefruit whole? Think FINESSE. I have fished with some of the best in New England like Kev Wasliewski here in RI and Jerome Moisand in MA, and I can tell you that these guys are meticulous finesse fishermen. That's why they consistently catch carp and do it with ease. Think FINESSE.

The Switch to Whiskey Maize

2011-05-06T18:28:00.001-07:00

This has been the best week of carp fishing for me since the season began. I have landed loads of carp in the teens along with several 20's and the 32 lber. One of the keys to my success has been my switch in flavors of maize. Every year about the first of May I will discontinue using pineapple and fruitti flavors and replace it with alcohol based flavors. Nearly all my fish this week were taken with Wild Whiskey maize that used to be sold by the Bait Stop (sorry...out of business). If you are into making your own, boil up some maize, put it in a jar and add some whiskey from the bottle. It's that simple. Another flavor that works out real well at this time of year is pineapple flavored Skyy vodka. I guess the carp are looking for that alcohol buzz in the prespawn period which is happening right now in most places..

32 lbs., 10 oz. Mirror!

2011-05-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Successful Fish-in At Roger Williams

2011-05-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

The RI CAG held their spring fish-in yesterday at Roger Williams Park. We had one of the best turnouts ever with 13 fishermen lining the banks and fishing away. The fish were not real cooperative, but we did manage to bank two decent sized fish. We also had a few more on and a couple of more runners. There was also a good number of fish jumping before dark but not real interested in hitting. In addition, there was a large bullhead caught. It was nice to see many of our "new" guys at the fish-in as well as some other fishermen that were interested in joining our RI CAG group. It was also nice to get together to share information and make plans to fish with one another in the upcoming weeks and months. Anyone interested in joining our group must join the national group first at http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/ Membership in the RI CAG is automatic when you join the national group.

Unbelievable Catches by RI CAG Member

2011-04-28T06:09:00.000-07:00

Brad Trouve, one of our most experienced and knowledgeable carp fishermen in RI and a long time member of the RI CAG, had an unbelievable week. He landed some of the most usual koi I have ever seen. In addition, he also caught a 29.7 lb. common. This is one of the biggest commons ever landed in the state and is just a few pounds shy of the record. It just goes to show some of the terrific carp fishing that RI has to offer. Simply fantastic and congratulations, Brad.

Tips for Beginners

2011-04-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

From the e-mail questions I am getting, there seems to be lots of beginners out trying but few are catching. Realize that this is a very difficult fish to catch on rod and reel. Even experienced carpers sometimes spend hours trying to catch just one fish and we do black occasionally. Here are some tips that might help you to get that first one.
1. Pick a known spot that has a lot of them rather than a few big ones. Prebait several spots within that one pond or lake. Try to find spots with structure like trees in the water, dropoffs, or sandbars. More fish will hang around this structure than in open, desert like bottoms. Stick to these spots and keep going back, baiting every time you go. Don't make the mistake of jumping from pond to pond.
2. Try one spot for an hour to an hour and a half. Move on to a different location if nothing.
3. Use corn and prebait with corn (non trout stocked areas). Sweet corn is very effective on the hair rig or even just on the hook.
4. Fish the right times. Mornings and evenings are always best.
5. Try to tag along with an experienced carper or attend a fish-in. You will learn more in one hour with an experienced fishermen than you will learn in 6 hours on the Internet.

Here is a list of some real good beginner locations to fish in RI and MA: Blackstone Canal in Lincoln, Scotts Pond in Lincoln, River Bend Farm Pond in Uxbridge, MA, Warwick Pond, Brickyard Pond in Barrington (trout stocked), Spectackle Lake in Cranston and Lake Mashapaug in Cranston. None of these places have real large fish, but they all have a lot of fish.

Heavyweights Hitting at Night

2011-04-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

I spent several nights fishing after dark this week looking for a big one. Like many other large fish, big carp are wary creatures and generally go on the prowl at night. In RI a big carp is considered 20 lbs. or more. After landing several fish in the 15-18 lb. range in the last few nights, I finally hit my first 20 lber. of the new year. Got it on banana flavored maize, a hot flavor at this time of year. Some of the biggest carp of the year are caught at this time since they are prespawn fish and are loaded with eggs making them very heavy. The photo at the right is an 18 lber. The 20 was landed a while later, but heavy rains prevented me from snapping a photo.

100th Carp of 2011

2011-04-11T17:48:00.000-07:00

Got my 100th carp of the new year today on this warm day in which the fish were active. It is the earliest I have ever landed my hundredth fish. Most of them have been mirrors and this 8-9 lb. fish was a mirror too.

Two Blogs= 100,000 Hits

2011-04-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

I began writing two blogs about two years ago. Today, those two websites logged a combined 100,000 hits. One blog, www.ristripedbass.blogspot.com, was started as just a local website that would give RI fishermen tips and ideas for fishing for striped bass in the Ocean State from shore, boat and kayak. That site now attracts viewers from all over the East Coast and is one of the top striper fishing websites in New England in terms of popularity and volume. My other blog, www.ricarpfishing.blogspot.com, was started to inform RI fishermen about the great potential of this fishery. As the state chairman of the RI Carp Anglers (CAG) group, I used this vehicle to inform carp fishermen about European techniques, equipment and information about the CAG. The interesting thing about this blog is that it attracts viewers from all over North America as well as from the UK and other parts of Europe. It has worldwide appeal that I never anticipated. Thank you to all of my loyal readers for making these sites so popular. I will continue to bring you up-to-date and relevant information about carp fishing and striper fishing here in RI.

Hot Fishing is Here!

2011-04-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Good bye cold weather and north winds, hello warm weather and hot fishing. Yesterday afternoon I hit the hottest fishing day of the spring as I landed 10 carp up to 15 lbs. The warm day brought increased activity as I saw a lot of fish moving around, jumping and bubble trails. They were also actively hitting. Hot bait of the day was banana flavored maize which caught most of my larger fish. Sweet corn, when I could keep it on the hook (turtles pesty), took a lot of the smaller fish. With temperatures heading toward the sixties this weekend, the hot carp fishing should continue.

One more big tip here. I caught most of my fish around structure. Underwater drop offs, downed trees, tree trunks underwater. These are all tough places to fish, but spots that attract a lot of carp. Fish around structure if you are looking to increase your catches.

Out with Sweet Corn, In with Maize

2011-04-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

The weather is warming up and that means all fish as well as turtles are getting more active. Active fish and turtles are just dying to get at that sweet corn. So, at this time of year, I dump the sweet corn in favor of more durable maize. There is nothing more irritating than to have your bait (sweet corn) stolen by clever pests who seem to take the bait without a twitch of the rod tip. Your unbaited hook can then be sitting on the bottom for a period of time and you have no clue the bait is gone. Darn sun turtles! It's not only turtles that are clever at stripping the delicate sweet corn. Horned pout are good at it, too, as are sunfish. So, to beat these pests I will resort to maize. Maize is a more durable corn. This is the stuff you get after boiling field corn. It is big and it's hard, making it difficult to pry off the hair (though snapping turtles can do it). I flavor it the same way described in an earlier post about sweet corn flavoring. In the last two days I had very good success with banana flavored maize. Pineapple also works well at this time. So, get the maize ready. With temperatures in the upper fifties and sixties on the way, it's time for the switch.

Thinking of Joining our Group?

2011-04-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

If you fish the RI/MA area for carp or if you are thinking about getting into this exciting sport, consider joining our group. If you join the national Carp Anglers Group, you are automatically a member of our RI group. Membership in the national group is $25 a year and you can join online at http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/main/. You will see a "join CAG" link at the top of the home page. Here's what you get for your membership fee: 4 color magazines a year (North American Carp Angler), free membership to the state chapter, some discounts at online stores, tournaments run by the CAG, complete access to the CAG Forum, and a national and state network of fishermen who can provide you with valuable information. Think about joining. We have a friendly and knowledgeable group of carp fishermen here in RI, and we are always looking for more members.

A Tough Week of Fishing

2011-03-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a poor week of fishing. I am barely scratching a fish or two a day, even blanking on other days, and I am fishing a lot in all my early season hotspots. Other carp fishermen in RI are reporting the same results. I attribute this to exceptionally cold nights in the 20's shutting everything down. I am seeing fish sunning themselves in the daytime when the temperatures barely get above freezing, but they are not at all interested in hitting. They barely move, looking like statues in the water. A week of temperatures above normal will certainly get the fish in high gear. I just don't know when that will happen.

Mix and Match Colors, Flavors of Sweet Corn

2011-03-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

Even with the cold weather, this has been a big week of carp fishing for me as I am catching large numbers of mirrors. Much of the success is due to a change in tactics. The ticket has been to mix and match flavors and colors of sweet corn on the hair rig.

Rather than go with one flavor on the hair rig, I am using multiple flavors and colors. My best combination has been two kernels of pineapple along with one kernel of tutti-fruitti sandwiched in the middle. However, I am also doing well with one kernel of peach, pineapple and tutti-fruitti. If I go with one straight flavor like three kernels of pineapple, the results are not as good. I have seen this type of thing work real well in the past, and it's working real well right now.

Your time with sweet corn is limited. As soon as the water warms up and pests such as turtles, bluegills and horned pout become active, they will pick the delicate sweet corn apart.

Entire Blackstone Now Trout Waters

2011-03-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

This week I got a ruling from the RI DEM regarding designated trout waters in the RI section of the Blackstone River. In the past we were told that posted areas and designated areas listed in the abstracts (Lincoln and Cumberland) were off limits until Opening Day (second Saturday in April). Everything else was open. It appears that has all changed. I am now told that the entire Blackstone River from Woonsocket to Pawtucket is now designated trout waters.
There are lots of implications to all this for carp fishermen and for bass fishermen. First off, you can't fish any area of the RI section of the Blackstone River until after Opening Day. Secondly, corn is now prohibited year round in all areas of the Blackstone. You are also not allowed to chum.
We live in a state where the fishing rules seem to change by the year or even by the week. And, few fishermen even know the rules since they are not clearly stated in the abstracts.
But, alas, fishermen, you can still fish for carp in the MA section of the Blackstone where there are no restrictions that strangle your fishing. In MA there is no Opening Day rule, no corn rules and no chumming rules. And, I might add that there is better fishing there. See you in MA in the next few weeks.

Changeable Weather=Tough Fishing

2011-03-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

One day it's 70 degrees and sunny. The next day it's in the 40's and cloudy. Two days later it's snowing and in the 30's. Get the picture. It defines March weather. It's not good for carp fishing as these fish are very sensitive to changes in their environment. This weather has led to an up and down month with one day offering good fishing while the next day there's not a fish interested in hitting. In a lot of ways, I think March is one of the toughest months of the year for carp fishing. More consistent fishing should be coming next month.

Know the Laws at this Time of Year

2011-03-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting experience tonight as I was questioned by a DEM officer while fishing for carp. I was fishing the Blackstone Canal as I frequently do at this time of year. Apparently, someone called in the DEM to report me fishing in trout stocked waters. (No doubt it was a misinformed trout junkie (yes, lots of them around)) Of course, I was doing nothing illegal as the upper canal in Lincoln is not stocked with trout and therefore is not closed to fishing. I was also using corn which was questioned by the DEM officer. The corn thing was later cleared up by a DEM supervisor and I was cleared of any wrong doing. The DEM officer was very polite and apologetic, checked my license, wished me luck and was on her way. Just doing her job as all calls to the DEM have to be followed through.
So, here are the rules you need to know for early season carp fishing in RI:
1. Carp fishing is permitted in any places not stocked with trout prior to Opening Day of trout season. Opening Day only applies to trout fishing. There is a listing on the DEM site of all stocked waters.
Quote from abstracts:
1.1 The open season on all species of trout, salmon, and charr shall close annually
on the last day of February at midnight and shall commence at 6:00 AM on the
second Saturday in April annually

2. The corn rule states that corn is illegal to use in trout stocked waters
Quote from abstracts:
1.9 The following activities shall be PROHIBITED:
a. Using corn for bait in any designated trout waters

3. One more reminder....if you are fishing at this time of year, you need a 2011 license. The old, 2010 one, expired at the end of February.

Know the rules if you are fishing at this time of year. Uninformed people may be watching and phoning the DEM.

On the Feed

2011-03-14T13:43:00.000-07:00

Conditions were all wrong today with cold winds, temps in the 30's and snow flurries in the air, but the fish were hitting once again. Landed a combination of mirrors and commons. Got all my fish today on pineapple flavored sweet corn on the hair rig (see photo). We're in full spring mode in some spots right now.

Fish the Warmest Time of the Day

2011-03-13T14:27:00.001-07:00

Had an interesting day of carp fishing today. Started out this morning and fished from about 10:00 to noontime. I got nothing but saw a few fish moving around. I went home for lunch and then went back about 2:00. It was a different story in the same spot as the fish were now hitting. Landed 4 mirrors and a common on pineapple sweet corn (see previous video). It all proves that at this time of year when the weather and water are still very cold, the most productive time of the day, mid to late afternoon, is the best time to fish. This is the time period in which carp are most active. Of course, this will all change when the warm weather arrives, but for the next few weeks I plan to fish as much as possible during the warmest part of the day.

Making Your Own Flavored Sweet Corn

2011-03-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

RI Ponds Now Producing

2011-03-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

I got my first carp of the new year from a pond here in RI today. It was a good looking common of about 12-13 lbs. (see pic). I've actually had several hits in the last two days, and this was my first real taker. I have to chuckle when I read the Fisherman magazine reports today that said nothing was going on in freshwater in RI. Ah, what they don't know!

Most of the ponds south of Providence are all open and fishable. North of Providence the ponds remain locked in with ice but shorelines are deteriorating. Looking at some warm weather on the way, I think everything will be fishable by the weekend.

Note that trout ponds remain closed to any type of fishing until Opening Day. You need a 2011 license if you plan to fish at this time.

Ponds Opening Up

2011-03-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

I went around this afternoon checking a few places and found that last night's storm and windy weather really opened up some ponds. Little is open north of Providence. Scott's Pond, Ryco and the Bike Path Canal are still locked in with ice and completely unfishable though open spots are showing along the shores. The Blackstone is very high and unfishable. South of Providence is opening up big time. Roger Williams Park is fishable with still a bit of ice in some spots. Mashapaug is fishable though about a third of the pond is still ice, mostly on the eastern shore. Spectacle is fishable at the back end. It still has ice at the south end of the pond. I suspect the ice will leave all the places south of Providence by the end of the week. The places north of the city should be fishable next week. Within the next few days I expect to catch my first carp in the ponds of RI. We are a week to ten days behind what happened at this time last year.

NOTHING going on

2011-03-04T05:48:00.000-08:00

I have been scouting around the last few days looking for places to fish. Nothing is available. At this time, the Blackstone River, the only open water, is incredibly high and fast. It is not fishable. I checked out the Blackstone Canal and numerous ponds, and they were all iced in. In fact, I spent two days this week ice fishing at Stump Pond in Smithfield where there was at least 10-12 inches of ice!
Last year at this time I was fishing several ponds that had completely open water. Not this year. This is already a late start and I suspect we are a week to ten days away before some of the ponds open up to fishing. I keep telling myself spring is on the way.